Substitute
Cleaners
Lancaster County
444 Cherrycreek Road, Suite A / Lincoln, NE 68528
(402) 441-7180 / http://lancaster.unl.edu
Compiled by Lorene Bartos, Extension Educator
[234]
CHROME POLISH: Use dry baking soda on a dry cloth.
Substitute cleaners can be made effectively if you
match the cleaners to the type of soil.
SAFETY CAUTIONS
• Do NOT mix chlorine and ammonia.
• Do NOT mix chlorine and toilet bowl cleaners.
•N
o “food” container should be used for storing
cleaning products.
WINDOW CLEANER: Spray one of the following solutions on windows or apply with a sponge. Wipe with
crumpled newspaper for a lintless polishing cloth.
1 quart warm water
1 tablespoon white vinegar and/or 1 tablespoon
household ammonia
(Window cleaner similar to Windex®)
1/3 cup rubbing alcohol
2/3 cup water
few drops of bluing
GENERAL CLEANER: Use to clean countertops, sinks,
bathroom fixtures, walls and any other washable items.
2 tablespoons household ammonia
2 tablespoons liquid detergent
1 quart water
WALL CLEANER: Use mild soap and water to clean washable walls. For non-washable wallpaper or paint, try this
dry cleaner:
1-1/4 cups water
2-1/2 tablespoons household ammonia
2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking soda
Mix water and ammonia add flour and baking soda
and beat until smooth. Cook slowly in double boiler for
1-1/2 hours. Cool. Knead mixture till smooth. Take a
handful of dough and rub the wall in gentle, overlapping
strokes.
FURNITURE POLISH:
1 quart hot water
1 tablespoon turpentine
2 tablespoons boiled linseed oil
CLEANING SILVER BY ELECTROLYSIS: Line pan with
aluminum foil. Fill with solution:
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 quart water
Bring water to boil, turn off heat, add silver and soak.
SILVER POLISH: Dissolve 1/4-pound neutral soap (Ivory,
Swan, or toilet soap) in 1 quart of water. Melts faster if
water is hot and soap has been shaved. Cool. Add enough
whiting to make a thick paste. If perfume is desired, add a
few oil of wintergreen drops.
COMMON SOIL REMOVERS: Vinegar for hard water
or saltwater deposits, alcohol or kerosene for greasy and
gummy soil and ammonia for heavy and greasy soil.
VASES & GLASS UTENSILS which have become cloudy
and discolored from flowers or hard water can be cleaned
by filling them with a hot water and vinegar solution. Allow
the solution to stand in the utensil until it cools. Wash and
rinse. Light rubbing with steel wool will take care of the
more persistent hard water spots.
CLEANING THE STEAM IRON: Pour this solution into
the iron and set heat to steam setting. Let steam until solution is gone. Rinse. Use distilled water to avoid clogging.
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 cup water
CLEANING SHOWER CURTAINS: Remove curtain from
rod and place in the bath tub. Soak in solution of 1 cup
vinegar to each gallon of water.
To remove mildew: soak in solution of 1 cup bleach to
each gallon of water.
CLEANING THE REFRIGERATOR: Use baking soda and
water. It will not harm the surface finish and will deodorize
as well as clean.
MARKS ON FLOORS AND WALLS: Black heel marks
and crayon marks can easily be removed by rubbing with
baking soda and a damp cloth. Baking soda will not remove
the paint or floor finish beneath the mark.
PAINT: Equal parts of ammonia and turpentine will
remove even dried paint from clothes.
Know how. Know now.
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cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture.
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